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downplaying

VERB

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Synonyms

STRONGEST

lessen play down soften

STRONG

devalue whitewash

WEAK

attach little importance to deemphasize give little weight to make light of think nothing of

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

French infectious disease specialist Nathan Peiffer-Smadja said that "managing an outbreak is not about reassuring people and downplaying the situation... nor is it about predicting the next Covid".

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Blanche described Allen as a serious threat, while also downplaying his proximity to the president and the likelihood that he ever could have caused harm to administration officials.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

While not downplaying the risks, Rice University’s Medlock pointed out that pipelines can be fixed relatively quickly.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

To say global heating is bad right now is really downplaying the crisis.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

There was no doubt she was suffering, yet she remained upbeat, downplaying everything with a shrug and saying, “Any caring mother would do all that and more for her children.”

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane